Doctor Who (2005) Season 11 Episode 6 Demons Of The Punjab

The Doctor and her companions, Yaz, Ryan, and Graham, land in 1940s Punjab, India. Yaz wants to learn more about her grandmother’s past and insists on staying there for a few days. However, as they start wandering around the village, they notice something amiss. There are no signs of the partition that happened in 1947 which formed the border between India and Pakistan. The Doctor and her team soon learn that there is a more significant problem ahead of them.

The Thijarians, a spacefaring race whose planet and people were devastated in a war, have come to Punjab following the death of Prem, a man who was to be married to Yaz’s grandmother. The Thijarians have the ability to assume the appearance of whoever has recently died to guide their souls to the afterlife. However, they are unable to do so in this case because there are demons who are attacking and causing chaos.

The team soon learns that these "demons" are in fact the Hindu-Muslim violence that took place during the partition. The situation gets worse when it is discovered that Prem's brother is scheduled to be killed by one of the village's Muslims. The Doctor and Yaz try to intervene and stop the killing, but their efforts turn out to be futile. The situation also complicates Prem's marriage to Yaz's grandmother since they are from different religions.

As the day of the marriage arrives, tensions start to rise, causing the demons to grow stronger. The Thijarians finally decide to assist the Doctor’s group in their efforts to restore harmony and end the violent attacks. With time running out, the group must try to stop the Demon’s evil that is causing this disturbance.

The setting of the series shifts to the small village in North India during one of the most tragic times in the country's history. The theme of love, devotion, and an unsettling climax, makes for an emotional episode. It explores themes of family, love, and community, providing a poignant reminder of the horrors of the Partition. The episode is an excellent example of how Doctor Who uses science-fiction to engage with historical events and generate awareness. The plot is emotional and beautifully told, staying true to the show's bond of the present generation with the past.